COUNTY APPROVES 4.8 PERCENT TAX HIKE BY 4-3 VOTE

The Broward County Commission voted 4-3 Thursday night to increase the county's property tax levy by 4.8 percent and approve an $831.2 million budget, the largest in the county's history.

"The unfortunate thing is nobody's mind has changed from the first budget workshop," said Commissioner Nicki Grossman.

She voted against both the levy and the budget, as did commission Chairman Scott Cowan and Commissioner Howard Craft. Vice Chairman Gerald Thompson and Commissioners Marcia Beach, Howard Forman and Ed Kennedy voted for both measures.

The county's 1985-86 property tax levy is $5.134 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. A homeowner whose property is assessed at $75,000 would pay $256.70 in taxes, provided that a $25,000 homestead exemption is claimed. Tax notices reflecting the new rate are expected to go out about Nov. 1.

The previous rate had been $4.90 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. That amounts to $245 on the same home with the exemption.

Despite the increase -- the first in four years and the first since County Administrator Floyd Johnson took over his post -- only about 100 persons showed up for Thursday night's hearing at the Deerfield Beach High School auditorium.

County firefighters proved to be the most vocal contingent, repeatedly lambasting the commission for what they called "inadequate" fire protection for the 145,000 residents in the unincorporated areas.

Under the budget, property owners in unincorporated areas will pay a special assessment of $60.89, 29.9 percent higher than the current fiscal year's figure of $46.88.

County officials maintain that the increase is due to increased costs and continuing annexation of the remaining unincorporated areas by the municipalities, reducing the tax base and driving up the cost of providing the service to the remaining areas.

Firefighters said still it won't be enough.

"We're not gaining nothing," said Bill Kebler, president of the Broward County Professional Fire Fighters Local 2738.

The commission is required to approve an ordinance Oct. 22 hiking the assessment. But adopting the budget makes the increased assessment all but certain, according to county budget officials.

Meanwhile, condominium residents who live on State Road A1A south of Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach complained about the "slow as molasses" process of acquiring property to widen the road from two to five lanes.